Viola Davis Skips Wig for Oscars Red Carpet

Megan Riley Lopez, Yahoo! Contributor Network

Coverage of The 84th Annual Academy Awards®•February 26, 2012

Viola Davis stepped on to the Oscar's red carpet in a beautiful, strapless emerald green Vera Wang gown and said she purposefully skipped the wig she wears on red carpets and for film roles. It is the first time the actress has rocked her natural short locks on a worldwide stage, and she says her husband, Julius Tennon, saw it as a potential opportunity for empowerment. "My husband wanted me to take the wig off," she told InStyle at a pre-Oscar dinner in Los Angeles. "He said, 'If you want to wear it for your career, that's fine, but in your life wear your hair. Step into who you are!'"

And while Viola has said she's not giving up the wigs for good, wearing her own hair was an excellent choice for a big event like the Oscars. Perhaps she is preparing for a win and a chance to make a statement about her au naturel appearance? Win or lose, the natural look ended up being an excellent choice, proving her family knew best.

Megan Riley Lopez is a pop-culture writer who has covered events ranging from the Grammys to the Golden Globes. She has previously contributed to In Style magazine, and now writes for the Yahoo! Movies, omg! and Music. Her online writing has been featured internationally.